Re: Smith out ASAP : Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:46 am  

I honestly thought Smith was the real deal when he took us to the grand final in which we put up a decent show. Sadly the following season I came to the conclusion he was out of his depth. I see nothing to change my mind this season, last season along with several others on this site we pointed out his flaws and failures. The smith fans on here claimed that last season was work in progress and he was getting rid of the so called deadwood.
Presumably the deadwood that took us to the grand final. His signings would supposedly take us back in contention for honours. We are now eighth in the table and out of the challenge cup. Looking at the intensity of last night’s Catalan-Saints game and the Saints-Wigan game the other week at the moment the current Leeds squad is nowhere capable of living with that.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:54 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

I could coach Penrith to spank most super league clubs.

Equally a great coach gets a team realising its potential.

Leeds need both better players and a first rate coach. Too often we have signed other club’s cast-offs or mid-table players. Most of the players who’ve left Leeds have ended up either in Champ or lower table SL clubs - so many examples of this.

Players who are bench players at other top clubs become starters for us.

Again it’s not rocket science. We need almost first grade NRL quality at prop and second row IMO to continue our progression, and possibly on the wing too. Not sure where we are at with Marquees, assume Newman is one and Croft.

A real good prop will take loads of pressure off Mik and Tom in particular. A marquee second row is good value because they are likely to play 80 mins. We have four/five back rowers who are just too small whereas we need just one big ugly horrible thing.

Completely agree. Has to be players who inspire others….

Re: Smith out ASAP : Sun Apr 07, 2024 11:47 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

I could coach Penrith to spank most super league clubs.

Equally a great coach gets a team realising its potential.

Leeds need both better players and a first rate coach. Too often we have signed other club’s cast-offs or mid-table players. Most of the players who’ve left Leeds have ended up either in Champ or lower table SL clubs - so many examples of this.

Players who are bench players at other top clubs become starters for us.

Again it’s not rocket science. We need almost first grade NRL quality at prop and second row IMO to continue our progression, and possibly on the wing too. Not sure where we are at with Marquees, assume Newman is one and Croft.

A real good prop will take loads of pressure off Mik and Tom in particular. A marquee second row is good value because they are likely to play 80 mins. We have four/five back rowers who are just too small whereas we need just one big ugly horrible thing.

I don't know if its already been mentioned, but as far as i know Wayne Bennett is available next season if Gary wants to open his wallet

Re: Smith out ASAP : Sun Apr 07, 2024 2:41 pm  

I don’t agree with constantly calling for new managers and new players BUT i think Mr Smith has been given long enough. Strangely enough his first season with a team that was not his got the best results. Two years of change and we are not progressing so I think the finger has to be pointed at RS.
The squad is not the best but it is far from the worst, what it needs is a Paul Rowley to galvanise get it and get the best out of what we have. He seems to be able to pick up the pieces year after year working with scraps. I am sure he could turn this squad into a top 5 or 6 team and given a close season to pick up at least one big hitter in the pack, bin and replace an injury prone winger and get a half back with the ability to dictate a game. He could turn us into something much better. We can but hope!!

Re: Smith out ASAP : Sun Apr 07, 2024 5:07 pm  

Reading the clubs website match review you would think we only lost by a few points here in lies the problem there's no accountability or honesty and quite frankly disrespectful to the fans who witnessed something completely different.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:44 am  

Going nowhere under him, but GH wont admit the mistake after making such a big deal about getting this appointment right at the time.

Soft, weak, dumb, short cut rugby, the exact opposite of proven successful rugby league.

Despite the mental gymnastics on here, our best forward last year was Walters, and We've replaced him with Goudemond, our best back last year was Macdonald, we've replaced him with Momorovski, both huge downgrades. Frawley is just as useless as most of us knew he was and resigning Fusitua has proved just as stupid as most of us knew it would be.

Cant remember which famous coach said ' if you start listening to the fans, you will soon be sat with them' true 99% of the time, Leeds would actually be better off if they listened to the sensible ones,our decision making has been so poor

Unfortunately, the Soft, weak, dumb, shortcut rugby dosnt just stop with the first team, we're going to waste another crop of talented players further down if we dont buck our ideas up

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:56 am  

It was Wayne Bennett, and he's right more often than he's wrong.

We need to be sounding out serious candidates and getting our house in order for a change at the end of this year if not sooner. I'm also concerned about the progress of the kids, perhaps more so than the next couple of years of first team. It would be criminal if we wasted this crop of kids that are on their way through by not giving them the best possible chance to lead us into a new era of success.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:22 am  

To be honest, I am quite concerned that the longer he stays, the more damage he will cause.

We are clearly short of a few good forwards, however, I remain of the view that with the right coach, this team is good enough to be in the top 4.

I could be wrong here as I don't watch Huddersfield or the players overly much, however, I always feel like Yates / Wilson would be the type of players we need. Go about their business quietly and get the job done without being mega earners.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:51 am  

We don't control the development of players. A club provides an environment within which players can thrive and achieve their potential. Ultimately it is the player themselves, always, who decides to work hard at training, to work hard at their diet, to be disciplined and give their best. It is ultimately up to the players to find the advice and help they need.

Leeds provides a coaching team, nutritionalists, and some of the best training facilities in the UK game.

Sometimes a player will really kick on from showing promise at junior level and sometimes not, it's the way of things. Even in the golden era, the vast majority of juniors fell by the wayside and never cemented a place in first grade.

How many players in the Leeds 17 are home grown? And you're looking at around a decade of youth development work there. I think the answer is 6 players. Since well before Rohan Smith's time.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:55 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

I could coach Penrith to spank most super league clubs.

Equally a great coach gets a team realising its potential.

Leeds need both better players and a first rate coach. Too often we have signed other club’s cast-offs or mid-table players. Most of the players who’ve left Leeds have ended up either in Champ or lower table SL clubs - so many examples of this.

Players who are bench players at other top clubs become starters for us.

Again it’s not rocket science. We need almost first grade NRL quality at prop and second row IMO to continue our progression, and possibly on the wing too. Not sure where we are at with Marquees, assume Newman is one and Croft.

A real good prop will take loads of pressure off Mik and Tom in particular. A marquee second row is good value because they are likely to play 80 mins. We have four/five back rowers who are just too small whereas we need just one big ugly horrible thing.

This is an interesting post. The coach and the players are catch 22 - better the coach the better the players they attract. It is no shock to anyone that the NRL players we attract can't get regular games in the NRL. Is Fasituia going to play ever again - how did he get a three year contract?

The idea that we could attract a top NRL forward with a coach like Smith is laughable. They way we treated Furner doesn't look good - if you were a top coach would you take a chance on a club like Leeds? Has Smith even moved his family here? Compare how Saints select and look after overseas coaches?

The culture looks all wrong - no honesty or belief - this is both a personal and coaching issue - in any team culture each participant needs to do his job to the best of his ability - there isn't a player who can look in the mirror and say honestly I am giving my best.

The players don't look fit/strong - again compare to Saints/Wigan/Catalans - physically they look second rate. Those that go to a gym know you can give it what you have or just go through the motions - too many going through the motions.

GH has been a superb CEO but its time for a change in the whole rugby set up - it just isn't working - a major reset needs to happen. The idea that JJB is anywhere near the top of an elite sports team should be a major concern to all stakeholders.